Not many improvements since the Dreamcast version, however it is still a welcomed addition to the Xbox.
In Shenmue II, Ryo continues his journey to track down his father’s killer (Lan Di, of the Chiyoumen), as well as uncover the greater mysteries of ancient artifacts, treasures, and a prophecy. At the end of Shenmue, Ryo’s quest led him to China to tie up his loose ends.
The game begins with Ryo docking in a Hong Kong harbor. Using his simple notebook and the contact information he was given, Ryo sets out to trail Lan Di through China. This quest results in many plot twists and an interesting story that will keep the player on for hours.
Shenmue II continues to follow its predecessor in terms of game play. Standard exploration, puzzle solving, interacting with the locals, and fun mini games continue tradition. The main structure of the game is fairly linear; however, it still retains its open ended approach. The main focus remains as discovering as much information as possible to aid you in the quest for the truth.
Shenmue II also improves upon the original’s game play. There are many different distractions and mini games that can keep you occupied for hours. You will also come across ports of classic Sega arcade games such as Space Harrier and Afterburner II. Some of the mini games are also essential to your quest. Finding a job, gambling, pawning off goods, arm wrestling, and street fighting are all just a few ways you will need to go about progressing the story.
There have also been significant enhancements in terms of game play tweaks and accessibility. Instead of wasting time waiting to enter a shop or meet with a person you are now presented the option to speed up time. Another welcomed addition is the ability to quickly warp to where you want without the need of running through several areas. One such other tweak comes in the form of QTEs (Quick Time Events). In the original Shenmue if you made a mistake you had to repeat the whole sequence. This time around you have the ability to correct the mistakes as the event continues. Another variation allows you a split moment where the action freezes and a set combination of commands is displayed, and then they must be entered in the allotted time. The game’s controls and interface also see some welcomed additions. The Xbox face buttons are displayed with context-sensitive uses. You also have the option of purchasing maps for an area, and the ability to mark people or places in that area, making it a very useful tool for getting around.
However, the graphics are somewhat disappointing. I also own the Dreamcast version of Shenmue II, and quite frankly, I expected more from the Xbox version. With the hardware and capabilities the Xbox had to offer, I thought the game could have looked a bit smoother.
Another issue I had was the voice acting. It was poorly done and could have been better. As for the rest of the game’s sound, the score is impressive.
Overall, the game itself is pretty solid. There are a few shortcomings, mainly concerning the graphics. I felt that the hardware the Xbox could have made the game look a lot better. Other than those minor issues, the game experience is strong and provides just enough on the entertainment in terms of game play and story.